In 1993 David Rudder encapsulated support and faith in the West Indies Cricket team in a few lines. Despite our diminishing cricket stronghold, the love for the sport and support increased. In 2022, we stand testament that rallying round the West Indies continues to expand borders in good and off seasons, even beyond cricket.
Caribbean sporting excellence rages on, and indeed Rudder’s words continue to prove true, “say we’re going to rise again like a raging fire, as the sun shines you know we gonna take it higher”.
Excellence! Ain’t nothing in this world greater than supporting our own. Yes, it’s easy to overlook the silver lining perhaps because of the lack of zeal towards some sports, sub par regional and international coverage and general lack of hype depending on your area of residence. But a win for the Caribbean is a win for us all, so let’s continue rallying round the West Indies.
Our melting pot of flavor and fervour in sport for this month focuses on the fire and spice of Haiti and Jamaica on ice in the 2022 Winter Olympics.
Cool Runnings!
Indeed. If you’ve never heard about Cool Runnings before, you’re probably not Jamaican or haven’t visited the Jam Rock island. Nothing sanctions Jamaican pride in the 1988 bobsleigh team more than this movie. “Feel the rhythm! Feel the rhyme! Get on up, it’s bobsled time! Cool runnings.” Can you feel it? Can you feel the Jamaican pride?
“If we look Jamaican, walk Jamaican, talk Jamaican and is Jamaican, then we sure as hell better bobsled Jamaican,” sounds like a very Jamaican thing to say. Even if you missed the action of this bobsleigh team that was momentous, the 2022 Winter Olympics has you covered.
For the first time in 24 years, the bobsleigh team qualified for the Olympics. To further increase the antics, this is the first time that the Jamaican team will participate in three bobsleigh events: four-man, two-man and women’s monobob. The Jamaican team comprises of Jazmine Fenlator-Victorian, Lance Corporal Shanwayne Stephens, Shadae Green, Ash Watson, Matthew Wilson and Audra Segree.
In an interview with That’s Shanghai Magazine, Fenlator-Victorian lamented “We, as Jamaicans, we are so proud of our heritage…to be an all-black team representing an all-black nation in winter sports is huge!” The events in Beijing commence from February 3rd. Be sure to tune in as the Jamaican team captures the hearts of the world again in this captivating event. Easy we do things.
The Land of High Mountains
Haiti stands testament to her name through the mountains she has faced. “But one day we’ll turn our heads and look inside you,” echoes from 2008 and to stand true today in 2022. Turning mountains into opportunities on and off the field, 19-year old Richardson Viano is the first Haitian skier to compete in the Winter Olympics. It goes to show that despite the dark times we have faced in the Caribbean, we can still count on some of our people to carry the flame that brings some light to our lives.